By Miriam Humbe
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, secured the conviction and sentence of two internet fraudsters, Emmanuel Nwanze and Omogbe Aroghene Justice, before Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Dele Oyewale, EFCC’s Head, Media & Publicity disclosed this in a statement signed on Tuesday.
They were arraigned on one-count separate charge of fraudulently impersonating foreign nationals.
The charge against Emmanuel reads: “That you EMMANUEL NWANZE (Male), adult sometime in July, 2025 in Ayobola Daodu Street, Sango-tedo, Lagos State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court fraudulently impersonated one Julienne Grundy by holding yourself out as such on your Instagram Application with intent to gain advantage for yourself and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 22(2)(b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Act, 2015”.
The charge against Omogbe reads: “That you OMOGBE AROGHENE JUSTICE a.k.a JULIENNE GRUNDY on or about the 8th day of July, 2025, in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without lawful authority, engaged in the disguise of the true source of the aggregate sum of $550 (Five Hundred and Fifty United States Dollars), which sum you knew to be proceeds of criminal conduct and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 18 (1)(d) and punishable under Section 18(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (Establishment, etc) Act, 2004.”
They each pleaded “guilty” to the charges when they were read to them
In view of their pleas, prosecution counsel, H.U. Kofarnaisa tendered the defendants’ extrajudicial statements, fraudulent documents printed from their devices as well as their mobile devices and the restitution of N300,000 (Three Hundred Thousand Naira) made by Justice.
They were all admitted as exhibits by the court.
While Nwanze was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine in the sum of N50, 000 (Fifty Thousand Naira), Justice was sentenced to two years imprisonment, with an option of fine of N100,000 (One Hundred Thousand Naira).
Their devices and the N300,000 restitution, were ordered forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The convicts’ journey to the Correctional Centre began when they were arrested for internet-related crimes. They were charged to court and jailed.
